International Journal of Engineering and Technical Research (IJETR)
ISSN: 2321-0869 (O) 2454-4698 (P), Volume-4, Issue-3, March 2016
The effect of moisture content, particle size and type
of feed component on the Physical Properties of
Pelleted feed from Forage and Cassava tubers with
the peel
J.M. Seidu, K.A. Dzisi, A.G. Addo A., Barte-Plange, Odai. B
Abstract A Pelletizing machine for the production of pelleted
feed for grasscutter in captivity was designed and fabricated. It
consists of a hopper, a barrel that houses a screw conveyor and
eight (8) pipes of 18.0mm diameter evenly located at the outlet.
The study was to find out the effect of moisture content, particle
size and feed components on the physical properties of the
pelleted feed. It was observed that moisture content, particle size
and feed component significantly affected the pellet density,
bulk density and the pelleted feed durability index at p<0.001.
However, the various particle size of the feed component
(Elephant grass, Gliricidia leaves and the cassava tuber with the
peel) did not produce any significant effect on the density, bulk
density and the durability index of the pelleted feed. On the
other hand, the types of feed significantly affect both the pellet
diameter and length/height at p<0.05 significant levels, but the
feed particle size did not have any influence on the pellet
diameter and the length. Moisture content did not significantly
affect pellet diameter but significantly affected the pellet length
at p<0.05. Particle size, type of feed and moisture content
significantly at p<0.001 had effect on the pelleted weight. The
high durability index of the pellet will enable the pelleted feed to
be handled, transported and stored easily as well as been fed to
grasscutter without producing any dust and wastage of feed
would be minimised since grasscutters are noted as feed wasters.
The absence of binders is an added advantage in the use of the
machine in pelleted feed production. . It is therefore
recommended that grasscutter farmers be encourage to use the
machine to pellet their feed that mostly are of forage origins
(elephant, grass, Guinea grass, Cassava tubers and peels) with
some nitrogenous plant origin like Gliricidia leaves and some
commercial ingredients to store and have regular supply of the
feed all year round
Index TermsGrassstructure, Hopper,Gliricidia, Cassava.
I. INTRODUCTION
Grasscutter farmers in Ghana feed their animal on guinea
grass, Elephant grass and at times peels of cassava which are
J.M. Seidu, College of Agriculture Education, Department of Agric.
Engineering & Mechanisation, University of Education, Mampong-Ashanti,
Ghana
K.A. Dzisi, College of Engineering, Department of Agriculture
Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology,
Kumasi, Ghana
A.G. Addo A., College of Engineering, Department of Agriculture
Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology,
Kumasi, Ghana
Barte-Plange, College of Engineering, Department of Agriculture
Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology,
Kumasi, Ghana
Odai, B, College of Agriculture Education, Department of Agric.
Engineering & Mechanisation University of Education, Mampong-Ashanti,
Ghana
66
in nature poor in nutrition, not palatable and usually low in
bulk density. Apart from the mentioned factors bush fires and
land clearing for either crop production or for human
settlement has compiled grasscutter farmers in Ghana to
travel between 3 to 5 kilometres in search of the grasses
especially during the lean or dry season that last for a period
of between three to five months in the rain forest and the
savannah climatic zones of Ghana where the animals thrive
respectively. Apart from the biomass been of poor nutritive
value they contain a lot of moisture, are irregular in shape and
size and difficult to handle, transport, store and utilize in its
original form.
In other to make grasscutter farmers to have an all year round
feedstuff for their animals, the Department of Agriculture
Engineering of the College of Education of the University of
Education constructed a pelletizer to pellet a ration made of
Elephant grass, Gliricidia leaves and Cassava with the peel as
the major feed component with some other commercial
ingredients as feed for grasscutters in captivity in Ghana.
According to [1]: [2], and [3], pelleting of animal feed not
only increases the bulk density of the individual components
of the feed and the transportation, handling and storage but
also gives a better flow properties than ground feed, reduces
ingredient segregation, less feed wastage, improves animal
performance, lower energy expenditure while eating, reduces
microbial load and improves palatability and digestibility.
Grasscutters unlike other monogastric animals, usually sits on
it hind legs and holds the feed substance with the fore limbs to
chew, therefore the need to compress its feed into a solid form
hard enough for the grasscutter to hold it without shattering or
breaking. For this reason there was the need to examine the
physical properties of the pelleted feed to ascertain its
handling, transport and storage ability.
II. MATERIALS AND METHODS
Four week elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum.) and
Gliricidia leaves were harvested from the college cocoa
plantation field while the cassava was purchased from a
farmer. The selection of the material was based on the fact
that they are the most used feedstuff of the grasscutter and are
common and available. The elephant grass and cassava tubers
were chopped into pieces of sizes between 2-4 cm whiles the
gliricidia leaves were left whole. They were separately shade
dried at a temperature of 25oC and ground in a hammer mill of
sieve size 2.0mm. The ground materials were mixed
according to a feed formulated formula together with some
industrial ingredients to obtain a crude protein level of 18% as
stated by [4].
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The effect of moisture content, particle size and type of feed component on the Physical Properties of Pelleted feed from
Forage and Cassava tubers with the peel

Physical properties of the three biomass From the grading test and determination of the particle sizes
Table 1 shows the geometric mean, fineness modulus, of the main three components of the feed it could be deduced
geometric standard deviation, bulk density and particle that the particle were fine (less than 5.0mm) and of different
density of the three main components determined according sizes as shown in Table 1 below.
to ANSI/ASAE standard [5].
Table 1: Physical properties of the three biomass

Material Moisture No. Particle Geometri Geometric Bulk density Particle

content Passes size(mm) c mean standard (kgm-3) density
(%, wb) (2.0mm diameter diviation (kgm-3)
Sieve) (mm) (mm)

Elephant 2.01 1 3.90 0.76 1.42 208.90 636.861

grass 2.55 2 3.83 0.75 1.41 263.45 648.081

Gliricidia .73 1 4.14 0.78 1.40 348.33 718.778

4.44 2 3.06 0.66 1.45 384.45 781.583
Cavassa with 4.64 1 1.54 0.79 1.56 741.43 1124.539
peel 4.54 2 1.01 0.66 1.55 773.61 1142.381

From the table the particle sizes of the ground raw (Geometric The different particle size also encourage high mechanical
mean diameter, mm) material range from 0.76mm to 0.79mm interlocking and surface tension force to produce stronger and
for one pass through the 2.0mm screen and those of the two durable pellets in accordance to [7].
passes ranged from 0.66mm to 0.75mm. It was also observed
that both particle density and bulk densities of the two passes Composition of feed rations.
of the main feed component were higher than the one pass of Table 2 gives a descriptive summary of the various levels of
the component through the 2.0mm hammer mill screen as inclusion of feedstuffs in the two rations before pelleting.
observed by [6]
Table 2 composition of feed rations before pelleting

Ration with Urea (ration 1) Ration with soya bean meal (ration 2)
Ingredients Inclusive Crude Calculated Ingredients Inclusive Crude Calculated
level (%) protein crude protein level (%) protein crude protein
(%) (%) (%) (%)
Major Major
Ingredient Ingredient
Elephant grass Elephant grass
Gliricidia 45.0 7.40 2.96 Gliricidia 40.00 7.40 2.96
leaves 29.0 19.70 5.52 leaves 28.00 19.7 5.52
Cassava with Cassava with
peel peel
Urea 22.0 4.4 0.96 Soya bean 10.00 4.4 0.44
2.8 44 8.05 meal
Minor Minor 21.00 44 9.24
Ingredients Ingredients
Dicalcium Dicalcium
phosphate phosphate 0.25
Premix 0.28 Premix
Common 0.35 Common 0.25
salt/table salt salt/table salt
Sodium 0.44 0.5
sulphate

0.13
Total 100.00 17.49 Total 100.00 18.16

67 www.erpublication.org
 International Journal of Engineering and Technical Research (IJETR)
ISSN: 2321-0869 (O) 2454-4698 (P), Volume-4, Issue-3, March 2016
Pelletizer Operation crumbled and uncrumbled pellets were taken using a balance
The three Phase electrically operated extruder consists of an with reading up to two decimal places.
auger enclosed in a cylindrical barrel. The semi solid mass is
The particle collected between the first and second sieve were
pushed through the evenly spaced 18.0mm pipes.
considered as Broken Pellets (BP)
The percentage of whole pellets was calculated using the
formula by [10]:
Unbroken Pellet ((UBP (%))
...............................(1)

Broken Pellet ((BP (%)) = x 100

............................. (2)
Then the particle below the 500m sieve, collected in the pan,
were used to estimate the dust percent D(%) as follows:
Dust ((D (%))) =
.......................................... (3)
Missing dust (%) since it was not collect and weighed it was
estimated using equation 4.
Missing dust (%) =
Plate 1. Pelletizer
... (4)
Pellet density
Ten pellets of each treatment were selected at random and
their diameters and lengths were measure using and electronic Dry Pellet Weight (g)
calliper and their averages determined and used to determine The pelleted feed was allowed two weeks shade drying to
the volume of the pellet. Their masses were also determined acquire uniform dimension and weights before considering
using an electronic scale of 0.01g precision. To calculate the their physical properties.
volume of each pellet the height of each pellet was measure at The dried weight of the pelleted feed was determined with a
three different points and their average was used with their laboratory scale measuring up to 0.01g precision.
measured diameters. The unit density was then calculated as Moisture absorption rate
the ratio of the mass of each sample of the pellet to its volume The rate of moisture absorption of the pelleted feed of the
and the average densities calculated. two rations was determined by placing them on wet filter
Pellet bulk density papers for a period of 30 minutes.
The pellet bulk density was determined using a cylindrical Statistical Analysis
container 96.99mm in diameter and 122.59 in height. The The multiple regression statistic for the models and Least
samples were poured loosely until the container was over square means and standard error was determined, [11].
flowing. Excess pellet was removed by passing a straight edge Results
rule across the top. For the tapped density the loosely filled The physical parameters considered were, the pellet
container was tapped on the laboratory table 5 times. Filling durability index, pellet density, pellet bulk density, pellet
and tapping was repeated until the container was overflowing diameter, pellet length, pellet moisture absorption rate and the
and latter levelled with ruler. The filled container was weight pellet weight.
using an electronic scale of 0.01g precision. The material Pellet Durability Index (%)
weight of the samples was obtained by subtraction the weight
of the empty container.
The bulk, porosity or void space was determine using the
equation [8]

Where:

Durability test of pellet

The pellet durability of the various treatments was determined
according to ASAE Standard S269.4.
Twenty pellets of the different moisture levels of each ration
was weighed and placed in a tumbling machine Erweka TA 20 Fig 1a. Effect of moisture content, particle size and type of
and ran at 100 revolution for 4 minutes. The weighs of both feed on pellet durability index (%)

68 www.erpublication.org
The effect of moisture content, particle size and type of feed component on the Physical Properties of Pelleted feed from
Forage and Cassava tubers with the peel

Fig.1b. Effect of moisture content, particle size and type of Fig.3 b Effect of moisture content, particle size and type of
feed on pellet durability index (%) feed on pellet density and pellet bulk density (kg/m3) Ration
2, (2 passes)

Pellet diameter and length (mm)

Figures 4 a and 4b show the various diameters and lengths of
the pelleted feed of ration 1 at the various moisture contents
and particle size of the main feed components.

fig 2a. Effect of moisture content, particle size and type of

feed on pellet density and pellet bulk density (kg/m3) Ration
1, (1 pass)

Fig.4a. Pelleted feed diameter and length (ration1, 1 and

2pass)

Fig 2b. Effect of moisture content, particle size and type of

feed on pellet density and pellet bulk density (kg/m3) Ration
1, (2 passes)

Fig.4b Pelleted feed diameter and length (ration 2, 1 and

2pass)

Dry Pellet Weight (g)

The pelleted feed was allowed two weeks shade drying to
acquire uniform dimension and weights before considering
their physical properties.
The dried weight of the pelleted feed was determined with a
laboratory scale measuring up to 0.01g precision.
Fig.3a. Effect of moisture content, particle size and type of
feed on pellet density and pellet bulk density (kg/m3) Ration
2, (1 pass)

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 International Journal of Engineering and Technical Research (IJETR)
ISSN: 2321-0869 (O) 2454-4698 (P), Volume-4, Issue-3, March 2016
Moisture content 2.00 3.00 1.5

Nitrogen free
Extract
Acid detergent 39.21 45.26 85.88
fibre
Neutral detergent
fibre
Calcium 58.00 47.00 14.00
Phosphorous
Esther Extract
Fig.5a. Pellet dried weight , ration 1 (1 and 2passes)
Metabolizable 88.00 67.00 24.00
Energy
0.23 026 1.33

0.23 0.26 0.33

3.00 4.00 4.00

1886.35 2613.60 3499.80

Fig.5b. Pellet dried weight ration 2 (1 and 2 passes)

Laboratory KNUST, Department of Animal Science,
III. DISCUSSIONS 2014
Chemical composition
The chemical composition of the three biomass species tested Effect of moisture content, particle size and type of feed
for physical properties is presented in table 4. The high on pellet durability.
contents of Lignin, Cellulose, Hemi-cellulose and protein Pellet durability index is a quality parameter that defines the
influence the pelleting property of the biomass. The combine ability of the pellet to remain intact when handled during
effect of shear, heat and residence time and water during the storage and transportation. It expresses the physical strength
pelleting process resulted in the partial denaturation of the and resistance to be broken up. Figures 1a and 1b, indicate the
protein in the material that may have positively affected the effect of moisture content, type of feed and particle size on the
durability of the pellet. durability index of the pellets for the two rations (ration1and
ration 2) at the various number of passes through the 2.00 mm
Table 4. Proximate Composition and Energy Values of hammer mill screen.
the three biomass species In all cases, the durability index decreased slightly with
Constiuents Elephant Gliricidia Cassava increases in moisture content of the feed. It was also realised
that, the ration 1 with larger particle size of the main feed
grass and Peel
(g/100g) component (one pass) recorded higher durability index of
98.06% and 97.94% at the moisture levels of 60.60 and
(g/100g) (g/100g)
65.26% respectively. For the two pass feed component the
highest durability index of 97.75% was recorded at the lower
Crude Protein 7.4 19.7 4.4
moisture content of 47.34%.
Pellets produced from ration two (2) recorded higher
Fat - - -
durability index. The two passed main feed component had
their durability index of 99.11 % to 97.80% while that of the
Lignin 36.00 17.00 1.00
one pass ranged between 98.42 to 93.30 %. In all, it was
realised that particle size, moisture content and type of feed
Cellulose 16.00 31.00 13.00
component had influence on the pelleted feed durability index
with the ration that had the soy meal component recording
Hemi-cellulose 30.00 20.00 10.00
higher values an indication that soy meal improves the
binding ability of the individual components due to it high
Dry Matter 98.00 97.00 98.50
protein and starch content as observed by [12]).
Ration 2 that had the soy meal as one of its feed component
Crude Fibre 38.89 19.54 2.22
had higher durability index ranging from 99.2 to 97.8 for the 2
pass and 98.3 to 93% for the one pass. This is in agreement
Ash 9.50 8.50 2.00
with the finding of [13] that soy meal helps to improve pellet
durability.

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The effect of moisture content, particle size and type of feed component on the Physical Properties of Pelleted feed from
Forage and Cassava tubers with the peel
In their work, higher percentage levels of protein of the
rations combined with the heat created during the pelleting
process and the moisture and shear, denatured the protein
which helped to induced the binding ability of the protein
resulting to higher values of the durability index, hence the
higher values of durability index of the two rations, [14]; [15];
[16] and [17].
The higher levels of the crude fibre content of 19.79% and
16.67% of the two rations respectively also contributed to
high durability index of the pellets as stated in the findings of
[18].
The study showed that, particle size, moisture content and the
type of feed had effect on the pellet durability and that the
pellet durability decreased with increased moisture content,
but was higher with feed rations with wider particle size
distribution of the main feed component (rations with one
pass of the main component in the hammer mill of 2.0 mm
screen size), as reported by [19]). The ANOVA results
indicated significance at p<0.05 level for all the traits [11].
In general the durability index of the two rations at the various
particles sizes and moisture content were high since they all
fall above 80% as reported by Colley cited by [20]).
According to him Durability is considered high when the
calculated value is above 80%, medium when the value is
between 70% and 80% and low when the value is below 70%.
Low pellet durability is not desirable as it can cause problems
such as disturbance within pellet feeding systems, dust
emission, and increase risk of fire explosion during pellet
handling and storage pellets as reported by [21].
Effect of moisture content of the pellet density and pellet
bulk density
Figures 2a to 2d, indicates the effect of moisture content, type
of feed and particle size on the bulk density and pellet density
of the two rations and their respective particle sizes.
Moisture content of the feed rations significantly affected the
pellet density and pellet bulk density. In general as the
moisture content of the feed rations increased, pellet density
and bulk density decreased as reported by[22].
From the graphs it could be deduced that as the moisture
levels increased both the pellet bulk density and pellet
densities decreased. The highest bulk densities and densities
were recorded with both rations with the two (2) passes of the
main component through the 2.0mm sieve screen; Ration1,
2passes had its bulk density ranging from 317.61 to
270.60kg/m3 and density 277.30 to 243.95kg/m3 and those of
ration 2, 2pass are 356.99 to 317.20 and 328.90 to 283.92
kg/m3 respectively.
Comparing the densities (pellet density and pellet bulk
density), those of ration 2 that had the soy meal as one of the
major feed component with high protein level recorded higher
values as reported by [19].
This finding is in accordance with that of [3] and [2] that
pelleting increases both density and bulk density of biomass
materials.
According to [23] and [1] high bulk density would increase
storage and transport capacity of the pellet, hence the produce
pellet can be stored and transported easily.
Both pellet density and pellet bulk density decreased with
increased moisture content. The highest pellet densities and
bulk densities were recorded from both rations that had their
main feed component of smaller sizes (feed component that
71
passed twice through the two (2) millimetre sieve of the
hammer mill). This is in agreement with [24] and [25] in their
study on physical properties of biomass, concluded that the
bulk density of ground biomass increase with decreased in
hammer mill screen size (smaller particle size) and the
moisture content.
Ration 1, 2 passes had its bulk density ranging from 317.61 to
270.60 kg/m3 and the pellet density ranged from 277.30 to
243.95 kg/m3. The pellet bulk density and density of feed
ration 2, 2 pass ranged from 356.99 to 317.2092 kg/m3 and
328.90 to 283.92 kg/m3 respectively. In general there were no
significant differences in both the bulk density and pellet
density at the various moisture contents.
Effect of particle size on pellet density and pellet bulk
density
Particle size of the feed component had effect on both the
pellet density and pellet bulk density and the ANOVA result
showed significant at p<0.05, [11], In general the pellet
density and pellet bulk density of the feed ration that had
smaller particle sizes were higher than those with bigger
particle sizes [6]).
particle size has no effect on the pellet density, bulk density
and the pellet durability as stated as [20].
Effect of type of feed on pellet density and pellet bulk
density.
From the study it was observed that the type of feed did not
significantly (p<0.05) influence the pellet density and pellet
bulk density.
Effect of moisture content on pellet diameter and length.
Initially, the pellet diameter increased with increased
moisture but gradually decreased after third level of moisture
content (from 61 to 71+ percent). The statistical analysis
showed significance at p<0.05 for the pellet length and no
significance difference with the pellet diameter at the various
moisture levels, [11].
In general moisture content have significant (p<0.05) effect
on most physical properties of the pelleted feed since it is
needed for gelatinization of the feed [26].
Effect of type of feed on pellet diameter and pellet length.
From the study it was realised that the type of feed had effect
on the pellet diameter and pellet length. When the extruder
performance parameters were subjected to statistical analysis,
all showed significant at p<0.05, [11].
Effect of particle size on pellet diameter and length.
The particle size did not have any significant (P< 0.05 level)
influence on both pellet diameter and length
Dry Pellet Weight (g)
The dried weight of the various moisture content, type of feed
and particle size of the major feed components are presented
in Figures 5a and 5b. It was observed that the dried weight
decreased with increased moisture content for both feed
rations. From the statistical analysis the various parameters
(Particle size, feed moisture content and type of feed) had
effect on the pellet weight at probability level p<0.001.
Averagely, considering the mean weight of the pellets, ration
1 with the one pass, every 50 kg of the pelleted feed would
contain approximately One Thousand Five Hundred and
Twenty Eight (1,528) pieces whilst that of ration 2 one pass
would contain also approximately One Thousand Two
Hundred and forty four (1,244) pieces.
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 International Journal of Engineering and Technical Research (IJETR)
ISSN: 2321-0869 (O) 2454-4698 (P), Volume-4, Issue-3, March 2016
Moisture Absorption rate
The different moisture content and type of feed of the rations
highly significant, (p<0.001) affected the rate of water
absorption of the dried pellets. However, the particle size and
time of exposure of the pellet to moisture absorption were not
significant.
IV. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
In general the durability index of the two rations at the various
particles sizes and moisture content were high since they all
fall above 80%. It was also observed that particle size, type of
feed and moisture content significantly (p<0.001) had effect
on the pelleted weight. The high durability index of the pellet
will enable the pelleted feed to be handled, transported and
stored easily as well as been fed to grasscutter without
producing any dust, and wastage of feed would be minimised
since grasscutters are noted as feed wasters. The absence of
the use of commercial binders is an added advantage with the
use of the machine in pellet production.
It is therefore recommended that grasscutter farmers could
use the machine to pellet their feed that mostly are of forage
origins (elephant, grass, Guinea grass, Cassava tubers and
peels) with some nitrogenous plant origin like Gliricidia
leaves and some commercial ingredients to store and have
regular supply of the feed all year round.
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